In 2006, I got a job in a Ukrainian trading company in Shanghai, and graduated from Shanghai International Studies University, with a Bachelor’s degree in the Russian language. If my memory doesn’t cheat me, I earned 3,000 Yuan per month(about 500 dollars), without any social or medical insurance. With that money, I had to pay for the accommodation, transport, food, and telephone in Shanghai.

Life wasn’t easy. Even now I still remember that day, when I had only 2 coins(2 yuan) in my pocket and had to hold on 8 days to get my first salary for a trial period(2,700 Yuan). I didn’t pay for the bus but hid in the crowd standing. During lunchtime, I pretend not to be hungry, because I really could not afford the meal. I spent the last 2 coins in the evening bus “home”. I asked my roommate if I could borrow 50 yuan from him, he hesitated for a while and answered yes. So I happily went to bed with relief. The next morning, my roommate handed me 2 pieces of 5-yuan money paper, creased, and said,” Sorry my friend, that’s my last money.”

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